Word Origin & History

1660s, from Latin salax (genitive salacis) "lustful," probably originally "fond of leaping," as in a male animal leaping on a female in sexual advances, from salire "to leap" (see salient (adj.)). Earliest form of the word in English is salacity (c.1600). Related: Salaciously; salaciousness.

Example Sentences for salacious

Similarly, the word "salacious," or lustful, had this origin.

"It takes a nasty, salacious mind to make that kind of separation," I said.

He had looked at life with the salacious eyes of a Peeping Tom.

"The citizen of Chartres is money-getting, apathetic, and salacious," replied the Abbé Plomb.

Is there one who prefers my writings to those of the salacious warbler, the wanton lacivious little Moore?